NUR2522C Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Study Guide

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering Addiction, Developmental Disorders, and Safety/Abuse/Suicide for Mental Health Nursing Exam 3.

Intoxication

A transient condition following the administration of a psychoactive substance resulting in disturbances in level of consciousness, cognition, perception, affect, or behavior.

Tolerance

A condition requiring progressively larger amounts of a substance to achieve the same effect that was previously produced by smaller doses.

Withdrawal

The development of a substance-specific physical or psychological syndrome after a person stops or reduces the use of a substance after prolonged heavy use.

Habituation

Psychological reliance on a substance or behavior for its pleasurable effects, lacking the physical tolerance or withdrawal symptoms associated with true dependence.

Addiction

A chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use despite harmful consequences, involving long-lasting brain changes.

Delirium tremens (DTs)

A medical emergency occurring in severe alcohol withdrawal characterized by autonomic instability, confusion, visual hallucinations, agitation, and high seizure risk.

CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol)

A validated tool used to measure the severity of alcohol withdrawal and guide symptom-triggered dosing of benzodiazepines.

Lorazepam (Ativan)

A benzodiazepine preferred for alcohol withdrawal in patients with liver impairment because it is metabolized via glucuronidation rather than oxidation.

Wernicke encephalopathy

An acute, reversible condition caused by thiamine deficiency; characterized by the triad of confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia or nystagmus.

Korsakoff syndrome

A chronic, often irreversible result of thiamine deficiency characterized by severe memory impairment (amnesia), disorientation, and confabulation.

Confabulation

The unconscious fabrication of stories to fill memory gaps; common in patients with Korsakoff syndrome.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Findings including growth restriction, intellectual disability, and facial features such as short palpebral fissures, smooth philtrum, and thin upper lip.

SBIRT

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment; a public health approach for identifying and treating substance use disorders.

CAGE

An alcohol screening tool consisting of four questions: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener; a score of $\ge 2$ "yes" answers warrants evaluation.

CAGE-AID

A screening tool based on the CAGE model adapted to include drugs as well as alcohol.

Opioid Triad

The classic trio of symptoms following opioid intoxication: pinpoint pupils (constricted), respiratory depression, and decreased level of consciousness.

Precontemplation

The stage of change where the patient is not considering change and may deny that a problem exists.

Contemplation

The stage of change where the patient is aware of the problem and is ambivalent, weighing the pros and cons of changing.

Preparation

The stage of change where the patient intends to act soon and may take small preliminary steps.

Action

The stage of change where the patient is actively modifying their behavior, such as entering a treatment program.

Maintenance

The stage of change characterized by sustaining behavior change and preventing relapse over time.

Relapse

The return to old behavior; viewed as a normal part of the change process rather than a failure of treatment.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

A 12-step peer support program focused on maintaining sobriety "one day at a time."

Al-Anon

A support group for family members and friends of individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Codependence

A concept where a loved one becomes excessively focused on "fixing" the person with addiction, neglecting their own needs.

Enabling

Shielding a person with addiction from the natural consequences of their behavior, which allows the addiction to continue.

Disulfiram (Antabuse)

An alcohol deterrent medication that causes severe nausea, vomiting, flushing, and headache if ANY alcohol is ingested.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A disorder characterized by a core pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity occurring in more than one setting.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

A CNS stimulant used for ADHD; should be given in the morning with a nutritious breakfast and monitored for growth or weight loss.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A disorder characterized by deficits in social communication/interaction and restricted, repetitive behaviors or interests.

Echolalia

The repetition of words or phrases heard from others; a common finding in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Tourette Syndrome

A tic disorder characterized by multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic present for more than 1 year.

Persistent (chronic) motor or vocal tic disorder

A disorder featuring either motor or vocal tics (but not both) that have been present for more than 1 year.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

A pattern of angry/irritable mood and defiant behavior toward authority figures that does not involve violating the basic rights of others.

Conduct Disorder

A severe pattern of behavior that violates the basic rights of others or societal norms, including aggression, property destruction, and theft.

Stereotypic Movement Disorder

Repetitive, purposeless movements such as hand flapping or head banging lasting $\ge 4$ weeks.

Intellectual Developmental Disorder

Deficits in three functional areas: intellectual, social, and adaptive (daily) functioning.

Neglect

The failure to provide basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care, or supervision; the most common form of child maltreatment.

Financial/Economic Abuse

The improper or illegal use of another's money or property; highly prominent in elder abuse cases.

Tension-Building Stage

The first stage in the cycle of violence where anger increases and the victim tries to appease the abuser, feeling like they are "walking on eggshells."

Acute Battering Stage

The shortest but most dangerous stage of the cycle of violence where tension explodes into physical, sexual, or severe abuse.

Honeymoon Stage

A stage in the cycle of violence where the abuser is remorseful, apologizes, and promises change, causing the victim to feel hopeful.

SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)

A Registered Nurse with specialized forensic training in physical assessment, evidence collection, and domestic/sexual violence advocacy.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

Deliberate self-harm, such as cutting or burning, performed WITHOUT the intent to die, often to relieve emotional pain.

Overt Statements

Direct expressions of suicidal intent, such as "I want to kill myself."

Covert Statements

Indirect clues of suicidal intent, such as "I won't be a problem much longer" or giving away possessions.

Postvention

Interventions provided after a completed suicide, such as grief support for survivors and monitoring them for depression or contagion risk.

Show of Force

A coordinated team presence of multiple staff members visibly ready to assist, intended to de-escalate a situation by demonstrating control.

Naloxone (Narcan)

An opioid antagonist used to reverse respiratory depression in an overdose; has a shorter duration than most opioids and may requires repeated dosing.

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

A vitamin used to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in chronic alcohol users; must be given before or with glucose.